One View: Fighting for human rights on César Chávez Day

Fifty years ago right now, César Chávez and Maria Zamora labored among thousands on the legendary long march to Sacramento.

That 340-mile trek eventually resulted in the landmark California Farmer-Labor Act which gave field workers rights long granted to other workplaces. Sen. Omer Rains, D-Santa Barbara/Ventura, now a longtime Nevadan, was a principal legislative leader of that fight.

It started because of boxing. On the tenth of last month, I journeyed to Reno City Hall for the city council's tribute to former Gazette-Journal writer Guy Clifton. United Auto Workers boxing coach George "Battling" Nelson is a big Clifton fan.

I noticed another item on the council agenda: Mayor Hillary Schieve's request to instruct the city manager to look into forming a human rights commission.

Acting as vice president of the Reno-Sparks NAACP, I endorsed her initiative. I noted that the Sparks City Council had unanimously authorized creation of a diversity commission on Jan. 22, 2007, but had not moved forward.

At Sparks City Hall on Feb. 22, former Reno-Sparks NAACP President Lucille Adin and I accepted the city's Black History Month proclamation. I reminded the council that we were present in that chamber for the 2007 vote and that the current council has an opportunity to make its proclamation mean something by coordinating with Mayor Schieve.

On Feb. 24, I joined my NAACP colleagues to receive Reno's Black History Month proclamation and informed the Reno City Council about what had happened in Sparks two days before. Mayor Schieve said she would contact Rail City officials.

The circle was completed on March 15 - the Ides of March, an iconic day to honor someone named César.